Bag carry

ABSTRACT

The present application is directed to a bag carrying device. In particular, the present application is directed to a plastic bag carrying device having a plastic bag handle holder designed to hold several plastic bag handles attached to an ergonomic handle designed for easy carrying. The bag carrying device can be used to carry groceries packed in a plastic bag without cutting in to the flesh of the person carrying the bags or cutting off the circulation to the same. The bag carrying device is designed to allow for easy plastic bag handle attachment and at the same time prevent the plastic handles from slipping off of the bag carrying device. The bag carrying device can be used to keep the grocery bags together during transportation so as to not allow the groceries to spill all over the back seat or trunk of the car.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of carrying devices used to assist aperson in carrying more than one plastic bag at one time without injury.In particular, the carrying device is designed to be small enough to fitinto a pocket or purse that can be taken out and used when picking upplastic shopping bags full of groceries when making a trip to the store.The carrying bag device does not only make the carrying of severalshopping bags easier than without the device but it reduces the chancesthat the person carrying the bags will injure his or her hands whencarrying several plastic bags full of groceries from the car to thehouse. The invention also relates to a carrying device structurallyadapted to be used in the medical field to carry bags of plasma, blood,saline solutions or any other type of fluid containing bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One task that almost every person in the civilized world performs onweekly and sometimes daily bases is making a trip to the store topurchase groceries. Many of the stores provide plastic shopping bags topack the purchased items in so that the customer can transport the itemshome. Even when paper bags are used to pack the groceries, the clerkoften places the paper bags into plastic bags so as to allow thecustomer to carry more than one bag in each hand.

Plastic bags are usually stronger than paper bags and allow the customerto bunch several plastic bag handles onto his/her fingers allowing theperson to carry multiple bags out of the store. Since most people wantto get this choir over with as soon as possible, many shoppers bunch sixor seven handles onto their fingers in an effort to get all of the bagswhere they belong in as few as trips as possible. Many times the weightof the bags cut off the circulation to the fingers, cut into the fingersof the holder and/or cause cartilage damage. Even though it hurts and isdetrimental to the shopper's well being, the shopping community repeatsthis act over and over again causing more and more damage to theirhands/fingers.

The bag carrying device available on the market today does not lock theplastic bag handles in place once attached so that when the bags areplaced in the trunk or backseat of a car for transportation the bagsslip out of the carrying device allowing the bags to spill all over thecar as they are transported home. Also if a person using the carryingdevices available on the market today is walking home from the storewith groceries and puts the bags down to rest, most if not all of thebags will become undone from the handle, possible spilling groceriesonto the street but at the very least the person would have to place thebags back onto the device.

What is needed is a bag carrying device that 1) allows a shopper toeasily attach the handles of plastic bags filled with heavy items suchas groceries 2) has an ergonomic handle for easy carrying of theattached bags without the risk of injury and 3) once the bags areattached the bags stay attached until released by the shopper preventingany unwanted spills. The handle should be designed so as to allow forthe even distribution of weight which will prevent finger/hand strain aswell as the loss of circulation and/or skin contusions to thehands/fingers of the shopper.

The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the carrying devicesavailable on the market today as well as providing additional benefits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a carrying handle for articles suchas plastic shopping bags, and/or medical solution bags such asintravenous bags containing sucrose, saline, plasma, whole blood and/ormedicine infused solutions. The carrying handle can also be used tocarry any other bag or item that could be carried in quantity.

The carrying handle comprises a handgrip portion, hook portion, and alocking means for preventing bag handles from coming dislodged from thehandle before it is desired that they become dislodged. The handgrip, atthe simplest level, comprises a closed loop having a hand passagetherethrough. In another embodiment of the invention, the handgrip mayhave an ergonomic shape defined by an upper edge and a lower edge thatcan either be covered by a removable or permanent padded covering.

The hook portion of the carrying handle can be designed so as to have anupwardly turned distal end and a wide article support area in directcommunication with the handgrip portion. In other words, the handgripportion and the hook portion are designed so as to act as one unitwhereby when the handgrip portion of the carrying handle is lifted; thehook portion of the carrying handle is also lifted.

The carrying handle is also fitted with a locking means for preventingarticles placed into the wide article support area from accidentallyfalling out during transportation of the items from one place to theother.

The carrying handle of the present invention can be of either have aunitary solid construction or constructed from several weldedcomponents. Regardless of whether the carrying handle of the presentinvention is made from several components or is poured as one unit thecarrying handle should be made from sturdy material selected from thegroup consisting essentially of plastic, metal, alloy material,composite material, resin and man-made material.

In one embodiment of the present invention the handgrip of the carryinghandle for articles comprising a surface area for placing indicia suchas the logo or trade name of a supermarket or business. The carryinghandle may also have a handgrip that is engravable so that the logo ortrade name of the supermarket or business can be engraved. In stillanother embodiment of the invention the handgrip of the carrying handlefor articles comprises a surface area for placing indicia that furthercomprises a means for attaching a nameplate.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the carrying handle forarticles further comprises a ring for attaching keys. The carryinghandle for articles may also comprise a store identification tag and/ora shopper identification store card that stores frequently provide so asto earn additional savings. The store/shopper identification can be aUPC identification tag that can be scanned to indicate the shopper'sidentification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1:

(10) Carrying Handle Device

(15) Article Support Area

(20) Hook Portion

(25) Passage Through

(30) Handgrip

(35) Locking Means

(40) Release for Locking Means

(45) Upwardly Turned Distal End

(50) Upper Edge

(55) Lower Edge

FIG. 2:

(100) Carrying Handle Device

(105) Hook Portion

(110) Article Support Area

(115) Ergonormic Handgrip

(120) Name Plate

(125) Upwardly Turned Distal End

(130) Locking Means

(135) Release for Locking Means

(140) Handgrip

(145) Clips for Attaching Name Plate

FIG. 3:

(200) Carrying Handle Device

(205) Clips for Attaching Name Plate

(210) Name Plate

(215) Locking Means

(220) Release for Locking Means

(225) Upwardly Turned Distal End

(230) Store/Shopper Identification Plate

(235) Article Support Area

(240) Hook Portion

(245) Key Ring/Belt Loop Attachment

(250) Ergonomic Handgrip

(255) Engravable Area

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is directed to a carrying handle devicethat can be used to carry articles that can either cause injury to thebare hand when carried as a bunch or articles that are usually carriedin numbers. For example, shopping bags are usually carried in numbers.Carrying several shopping bags at one time is made easier with thecarrying handle device than without the device. Not only does thecarrying device make it easier than without the device, using the devicereduces the chances that the person carrying the bags will injure his orher hands when carrying several plastic bags full of groceries from thecar to the house. The invention also relates to a carrying devicestructurally adapted to be used in the medical field to carry bags ofplasma, blood, saline solutions or any other type of fluid containingbags. FIG. 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention,

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the carrying handle of the presentinvention. The carrying device (10) of the present invention comprises ahandgrip (30), a hook portion (20) and a locking means (35). Thehandgrip (30) has a passage through (25) that the user can positionhis/her hand in to lift the device. The passage through (25) should belarge enough so as to fit both large and small hands so that the deviceis one size fits all. The passage through (25) has an upper edge (50)that may or may not be padded and a lower edge (55) that must be smoothso as not to be abrasive to the user's hand.

The second main portion of the device is the hook portion (20). The hookportion (20) has an article support area (15) where the items to becarried rest when being carried. For this reason alone, it is veryimportant that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tareany of the articles being carried. The hook portion (20) of the devicehas a locking means (35) that spans across the space where the items tobe carried are placed between the hand grip (30) and the upwardly turneddistal end (45) of the hook portion (20). The locking means (35) isdesigned so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slipthrough the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip passthe locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action istaken. For example, attached to the locking means (35) is a release forlocking means (40) that when pressed opens the locking means (35) andallows the items being held in this portion of the carrying handle to bereleased. Alternative locking mechanisms can be used that will achievethe same desired effect clearly fall within the scope of the presentinvention and are anticipated to be part of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention having a nameplate area. The carrying device (100) of thepresent invention comprises a handgrip (140), a hook portion (105) and alocking means (130). Unlike the handgrip of the embodiment illustratedin the FIG. 1 the handgrip (140) does not have a passage through.Instead, the handgrip (140) is a solid piece that the user can positionhis/her hand around to grip the handle and lift the device. The solidpiece should be small enough that a small hand can fit around but largeenough for structural integrity. The handgrip (140) may or may not bepadded so as not to be abrasive to the user's hand. The handgrip (140)can also be designed to have an area that ergonomically fits the contourof the user's hand (115).

The second main portion of the device is the hook portion (105). Thehook portion (105) has an article support area (110) where the items tobe carried rest when being carried. For this reason alone, it is veryimportant that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tareany of the articles being carried. The hook portion (105) of the devicehas a locking means (130) that spans across the space where the items tobe carried are placed between the handgrip (140) and the upwardly turneddistal end (125) of the hook portion (105). The locking means (135) isdesigned so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slipthrough the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip passthe locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action istaken.

The major difference between the embodiment described by FIG. 1 and theembodiment described by FIG. 2 is the reconfiguration of the handgrip(140) to include an area for a nameplate (120). The nameplate (120)could either be a corporate name or more likely a supermarket name thatsold or gave away the carrying handle device (100). The nameplate areaof the carrying handle device (100) there can be fitted with a series ofclips for attaching different nameplates so that the same mold can beused to produce the device and a particular nameplate (120) snapped intothe nameplate area via the clips. The alternative way of producing thecarrying handle device (100) is to manufacture the device without thenameplate and once the nameplate is produced glue the nameplate in placeto make the personalized carrying handle device (100). It is wellunderstood that one skilled in the art of manufacturing devices of thistype would use available techniques in manufacturing to produce thedevices efficiently. It is anticipated that these techniques can andwill be used to manufacture the carrying handle devices of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention.The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has all of the features of the embodimentshown in FIG. 2 with an additional inscribable/printable area (230) anda key ring/belt loop attachment (245).

FIG. 3 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention having an additional inscribable/printable area (230) and akey ring/belt loop attachment (245). The carrying device (200) of thepresent invention comprises a handgrip (260), a hook portion (240) and alocking means (215). Like the handgrip of the embodiment illustrated inthe FIG. 2 the handgrip (260) does not have a passage through. Thehandgrip (260) is a solid piece that the user can position his/her handaround to grip the handle and lift the device. The solid piece should besmall enough that a small hand can fit around but large enough forstructural integrity. The handgrip (260) may or may not be padded so asnot to be abrasive to the user's hand. The handgrip (260) can also bedesigned to have an area that ergonomically fits the contour of theuser's hand (250).

The second main portion of the device is the hook portion (240). Thehook portion (240) has an article support area (235) where the items tobe carried rest when being carried. As stated above, it is veryimportant that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tareany of the articles being carried. The hook portion (240) of the devicehas a locking means (215) that spans across the space where the items tobe carried are placed between the handgrip (260) and the upwardly turneddistal end (225) of the hook portion (240). The locking means (215) isdesigned so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slipthrough the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip passthe locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action istaken.

The handgrip (260) of FIG. 3 includes an area for a nameplate (210). Thenameplate (210) could either be a corporate name or more likely asupermarket name that sold or gave away the carrying handle device(200). The nameplate area of the carrying handle device (200) there canbe fitted with a series of clips for attaching different nameplates sothat the same mold can be used to produce the device and a particularnameplate (205) snapped into the nameplate area via the clips. Thealternative way of producing the carrying handle device (200) is tomanufacture the device without the nameplate and once the nameplate isproduced glue the nameplate in place to make the personalized carryinghandle device (200). It is well understood that one skilled in the artof manufacturing devices of this type would use available techniques inmanufacturing to produce the devices efficiently. It is anticipated thatthese techniques can and will be used to manufacture the carrying handledevices of the present invention.

For example, attached to the locking means (135) is a release forlocking means (40) that when pressed opens the locking means (35) andallows the items being held in this portion of the carrying handle to bereleased. Alternative locking mechanisms can be used that will achievethe same desired effect clearly fall within the scope of the presentinvention and are anticipated to be part of the present invention.

As stated above, the carrying handle device (200) would have anadditional inscribable area that can be used to display a shopperidentification code such as a UCP code. This way a shopper would haveadditional reasons to use the carrying handle device (200) other thancarrying shopping bags out of the store. In other words, a shopper wouldalways have their shopper code handy so that they can take advantage ofany programs the store may have associated with such a code by havingthe device with them. Having a key ring/belt loop would also permitadditional uses of the device and would help assure that the shopperwould return to the same store since they have their shopper codes athand at all times.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect tospecific illustrative embodiments and modes of practice, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications andimprovements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by theillustrative embodiments and modes of practice.

1. A carrying handle for articles, comprising: a handgrip portion; ahook portion having an upwardly turned distal end and a wide articlesupport area in direct communication with said handgrip portion wherebysaid handgrip portion and said hook portion act as one unit; and alocking means for preventing said articles placed into said wide articlesupport area from accidentally falling out of said wide article supportarea.
 2. The carrying handle for articles according to claim 1 whereinsaid handgrip portion said handgrip having an ergonomic shape defined byan upper edge and a lower edge.
 3. The carrying handle for articlesaccording to claim 2 further comprising a padded covering surroundingsaid handgrip.
 4. The carrying handle for articles according to claim 1wherein said handgrip comprises a closed loop having a hand passagetherethrough, and a hook portion depending from said handgrip portion,said hook portion formed as a unitary solid construction of sturdymaterial selected from the group consisting essentially of plastic,metal, alloy material, composite material, resin and man-made material.5. A carrying handle for articles, comprising: a handgrip portioncomprising a surface area for placing indicia; a hook portion having anupwardly turned distal end and a wide article support area in directcommunication with said handgrip portion whereby said handgrip portionand said hook portion act as one unit; and a locking means forpreventing said articles placed into said wide article support area fromaccidentally falling out of said wide article support area.
 6. Thecarrying handle for articles according to claim 5 wherein said area forplacing indicia is engravable.
 7. The carrying handle for articlesaccording to claim 5 wherein said surface area for placing indiciafurther comprises a means for attaching a name plate.
 8. The carryinghandle for articles according to claim 1 further comprising a ring forattaching keys.
 9. The carrying handle for articles according to claim 5wherein said handgrip comprises a closed loop having a hand passagetherethrough, and a hook portion depending from said handgrip portion,said hook portion formed as a unitary solid construction of sturdymaterial selected from the group consisting essentially of plastic,metal, alloy material, composite material, resin and man-made material.10. The carrying handle for articles according to claim 5 wherein thehandgrip is molded to ergonomically fit the contour of the user's hand.11. The carrying handle for articles according to claim 5 furthercomprising a store identification tag.
 12. The carrying handle forarticles according to claim 11 wherein the identification tag is ashopper identification store card.
 13. The carrying handle for articlesaccording to claim 1 further comprising a store identification tag. 14.The carrying handle for articles according to claim 11 wherein theidentification tag is a shopper identification store card.